1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis of this play, "Execution of Justice" is the events leading up to Dan White's confession.Before this event, we are shown a rather straight-forward court procedural. Mr. White killed two government officials, and he's being prosecuted in a court of law. Although the defense has plead mental insanity, there is no doubt that the prosecution should have this case done and dusted. However, the introduction of the Mr. White's confession seems to change the way in which the jurors see Mr. White. Before this event, Mr. White is just a murder.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion of the play is the introduction of the Dan White's confession. Up to this point, the events of the play seem to be straight forward. However, the Mr. White's confession seems to divert the play off it's destined path. We are shown a more humanistic Dan White, and, more importantly, so are the jurors. In the stage directions, the audience is told that the jurors are sobbing. The jurors, who hold Mr. White's fate in their hands, seemed to be swayed ever so slightly.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The unique factor of the play is that the court case concerning Dan White and the murders of Mr. Milk and Mr. Moscone is occurring under these circumstances with these particular lawyers and this particular jury.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Why did Dan White kill Harvey Milk and George Moscone? Were the murders premeditated or a result of external pressures? Does the punishment fit the crime?
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
At the onset, you have a clear mano e mano battle between the prosecutor, Mr. Norman, and the defense, Mr. Schmidt. Each man is trying to beat the other to win the case. Each character also share parallels with how they must try to persuade the jury in their favor. However, each does this in a different way. Norman does it with facts, while Schmidt goes for emotional appeal. There is also a difference with how each encounters the court. Schmidt finds ways to manipulate the scales in his favor (such as a more biased jury) while Norman can't seem to catch a break (during the second act, Norman objective most everything coming out of Schmidt's mouth, but to no avail). The most important difference between characters, however, is their preparation. Schmidt seems to have prepared way more for this case than Norman, who appears as if he thought the case was rather straight-forward.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
A theatrical moment in "Execution of Justice" is when the recording is played. The opening and closing statements (monologues) are also very theatrical in nature. The character of Boom Boom is quite theatrical as well, as he represents the views of the marginalized through his asides to the audience.
The stasis of this play, "Execution of Justice" is the events leading up to Dan White's confession. Before this event, we are shown a rather straight-forward court procedural. Mr. White killed two government officials, and he's being prosecuted in a court of law. Although the defense has plead mental insanity, there is no doubt that the prosecution should have this case done and dusted. However, the introduction of the Mr. White's confession seems to change the way in which the jurors see Mr. White. Before this event, Mr. White is just a murder.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion of the play is the introduction of the Dan White's confession. Up to this point, the events of the play seem to be straight forward. However, the Mr. White's confession seems to divert the play off it's destined path. We are shown a more humanistic Dan White, and, more importantly, so are the jurors. In the stage directions, the audience is told that the jurors are sobbing. The jurors, who hold Mr. White's fate in their hands, seemed to be swayed ever so slightly.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The unique factor of the play is that the court case concerning Dan White and the murders of Mr. Milk and Mr. Moscone is occurring under these circumstances with these particular lawyers and this particular jury.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Why did Dan White kill Harvey Milk and George Moscone? Were the murders premeditated or a result of external pressures? Does the punishment fit the crime?
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
At the onset, you have a clear mano e mano battle between the prosecutor, Mr. Norman, and the defense, Mr. Schmidt. Each man is trying to beat the other to win the case. Each character also share parallels with how they must try to persuade the jury in their favor. However, each does this in a different way. Norman does it with facts, while Schmidt goes for emotional appeal. There is also a difference with how each encounters the court. Schmidt finds ways to manipulate the scales in his favor (such as a more biased jury) while Norman can't seem to catch a break (during the second act, Norman objective most everything coming out of Schmidt's mouth, but to no avail). The most important difference between characters, however, is their preparation. Schmidt seems to have prepared way more for this case than Norman, who appears as if he thought the case was rather straight-forward.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
A theatrical moment in "Execution of Justice" is when the recording is played. The opening and closing statements (monologues) are also very theatrical in nature. The character of Boom Boom is quite theatrical as well, as he represents the views of the marginalized through his asides to the audience.